Public Notice: EPA Issues Explanation of Significant Differences for the Sand Creek Industrial Superfund Site

Summary

EPA is modifying the existing remedy for Operable Units 1 and 5 (OUs 1 & 5) of the Sand Creek Industrial Superfund Site (Site) through a change called an Explanation of Significant Difference (ESD), adding institutional controls to ensure the selected remedy remains protective in the long term. The Records of Decision (RODs) documenting EPA’s selected remedy decisions are explained in the September 1989 ROD (for OU1) and the September 1990 ROD (for OU5). This ESD adds institutional controls (legal, physical or informational tools) in order to minimize the disturbance of contaminated soils in OUs 1 & 5.

Typically, EPA includes institutional controls in the remedy to ensure the cleanup remains protective into the future. The sixth Five-Year Review Report for the Site (September 2020) found the remedy to be short-term protective but lacking institutional controls that could ensure long-term protectiveness. This ESD proposes restrictive notices, a form of institutional control, that will introduce additional requirements if property owners conduct work where contaminated soil will be disturbed. EPA and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment will work together, with property owners, to implement these restrictive notices.

Explanation of Significant Differences (ESD) Sand Creek Industrial Superfund Site Operable Units 1 & 5 (pdf) (6 pp, 3.2 MB) 

For more information on the Site, please visit the Sand Creek Industrial Superfund website.